Critical Care Nurse Fellowship Program at UPMC in South Central Pa.

UPMC Pinnacle’s Critical Care Nurse Fellowship Program is designed to provide graduate nurses with a comprehensive, structured orientation to the critical care environment.

About the Program

Our six-month program will support your transition into the registered nurse role by developing:

• Advanced physical assessment skills
• Critical thinking
• Organizational skills
• Communication skills
• Knowledge of pathophysiology
• Clinical skills

Professional development courses and workshops, which are approved for continuing education credit, are offered to promote individual growth.

Critical Care Nursing Units

Our critical care teams are comprised of professional, autonomous and highly motivated registered nurses, patient-care assistants and unit secretaries. Our teams are supported by a nurse manager, clinical manager and clinical nurse specialist and provide care for a variety of patients, including:

• Myocardial infarction and postcardiac interventional patients
• Open-heart surgery patients
• Toxicology patients (the only inpatient toxicology unit in the United States)
• Neurosurgical patients
• Organ transplant patients
• Critically ill surgical patients

Our staff are involved in the decision-making process regarding system and unit operation through participation in committees, including unit-based scheduling, performance improvement, education and the Nursing Council.

UPMC Pinnacle has four critical care units, including:

• Medical/Surgical ICU (MSICU)
  Community Campus
• Medical/Surgical ICU (MSICU)
  Harrisburg Campus
• Coronary Care Unit (CCU)
  Harrisburg Campus
• Cardiothoracic ICU (CTICU)
  Harrisburg Campus

Curriculum and Schedule

Each week of the Critical Care Nurse Fellowship Program is designed to combine didactic content with precepted clinical time.

The schedule includes:

• Weeks 1-2:
  Orientation to UPMC Pinnacle and the Department of Nursing

• Weeks 3-4:
  Orientation to your department

• Weeks 5-6:
  EKG Course. The EKG workshop reviews basic dysrhythmias, 12-lead EKG interpretation, pacemakers and pharmacology.

• Weeks 7-8, Core Cardiopulmonary Course:
  The Core Cardiopulmonary course is for professional staff who care for high-acuity medical-surgical or critical care patients. Content includes patient assessment skills, laboratory findings interpretation and airway management principles.

• Weeks 9-15, Critical Care Course:
  The Critical Care course is comprised of three sections: didactic learning, knowledge application utilizing case studies/supplementary experiences and clinical integration/critical care thinking via a precepted clinical rotation. Didactic content is presented using AACN’s Internet-based Essentials of Critical Care Orientation (ECCO) program. The ECCO program consists of nine modules organized according to a body-systems approach. Students can earn 64 CE credits for successful completion of all nine modules.

• Week 16, Advanced Critical Life Support:
  Advanced Critical Life Support is a course that teaches the established best practices for cardiopulmonary resuscitation. A simulation lab replicates real-life emergencies.

• Weeks 17-24:
  Dedicated precepted clinical time to further develop assessment and clinical skills.

Application Requirements

To apply for our Critical Care Nurse Fellowship Program, you must provide:

• A completed employment application
• A copy of your current transcripts
• Two letters of recommendation (one must be from a school instructor)
• A letter of professional goals
• A resume
• Critical Care Fellowship Program Outline

Contact Us

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Phone: 866-231-9876
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